Auto and aircraft safety liners

ABSTRACT

A liner bonded to the inner side of a vehicle body so to aid in protecting passengers against hard impact therewith during a collision or violent movement of the vehicle, the liner comprising a foam sheet which may be variously designed so to include air pockets for additionally absorbing shock.

United States Patent Forshee Feb. 1, 1972 [54] AUTO AND AIRCRAFT SAFETYLINERS [72] Inventor: Lloyd T. Forshee, 1219 Fischer Drive,

' Saginaw, Mich. 48601 [22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 870,321

[52] US. Cl. ..296/39 R, 52/309,244/119 R, 280/150 B [51] Int. Cl ..B62d25/00 [58] Fieldol'Search.... ..296/31,31 P, 39, 39 A; 280/150 B;52/403, 309; 206/46 FR; 244/1 19 R {56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,006,232 6/1935 Upson ..296/31 X 2,142,463 1/1939 Upson..296/137A Oelkrug ..280/150 B Gambill et a1 ..296/39 X FOREIGN PATENTSOR APPLICATIONS 865,977 4/1961 Great Britain ..296/137 A PrimaryExaminer-Leo Friaglia Assistant Examiner-John A. Pekar Attorney-Learman& McCulloch [57] ABSTRACT A liner bonded to the inner side of a vehiclebody so to aid in protecting passengers against hard impact therewithduring a collision or violent movement of the vehicle, the linercomprising a foam sheet which may be variously designed so to includeair pockets for additionally absorbing shock.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures AUTO AND AIRCRAFT SAFETY LINERS Thisinvention relates generally to vehicle bodies. More specifically itrelates to impact shock absorbing devices in automotive and aircraftvehicles.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a liner forthe inner wall surface of an airplane or automotive vehicle, the linerhaving self-contained means to protect passengers against hard impacttherewith in the event of a collision or violent movement of thevehicle.

Another object is to provide a liner which can be readily installed oninner wall surfaces of a roof, doors or other areas of the vehicle body.

Another object is to provide a liner made of foamed material, and whichmay be variously modified to include air pockets to further absorbshocks.

Other objects are to provide an auto and aircraft safety liner which issimple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction,easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident from the followingspecification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle incorporating the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing a roofportion.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on line 3--3 of FIG. 1 showing a doorsection.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing a modified design oftheinvention.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing a further modified design.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing a still further modifieddesign.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and more particularly to FIGS.1.10 3, the reference numeral 10 represents a vehicle safety lineraccording to the present invention, wherein the liner comprises a foamedstyrene or the like sheet 11 that is bonded to an inner surface 12 ofawall 13, roof 14, or door 15 of an airplane or automobile 16. The foamsheet has a spongy or soft character for cushioning a shock in case ofviolent impact against a passenger.

In FIG. 4, a modified liner 17 is shown which comprises a foam sheet 18irregularly deformed to one side to provide spaced-apart air pockets l9therebetween and a metal surface 20 to which it is bonded.

In FIG. 5, another modified liner 21 is shown wherein the pockets 22 areof bellows configuration so that the pocket is axially collapsible thusimproving cushioning characteristics.

In this construction the foam sheet 23 is deformed to one side toproduce the pockets is located between a flat, foam sheet 24 bonded tothe metal surface 25, and a flat metal or vinyl sheet 26.

In FIG. 6, a further modified liner 27 is shown wherein pockets 28 areformed in a foamed sheet sheet 29 located on one side of a foam sheet 30bonded to metal, plastic or other material surface 31.

Thus there is provided a liner for protecting passengers in a violentimpact.

While various changes may be made in the details of construction, it isunderstood that such changes will be within the spirit and scope of thepresent invention.

I claim:

1. A safety liner for a vehicle having a wall, said liner comprising afirst sheet of soft, spongy material overlying said wall, said sheetbeing deformed to one side thereof at spaced intervals to formspaced-apart, cup-shaped air pockets therein; means securing said sheetto said wall; and a second sheet overlying said first sheet and beingspaced from the latter by said pockets.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said second sheet isflat.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein the means securing saidfirst sheet to said wall comprises a flat sheet interposed between andbonded to said wall and said first sheet.

. The construction set forth In claim 3 wherein said flat sheet isformed from soft, spongy material.

5. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said pockets have abellows configuration.

1. A safety liner for a vehicle having a Wall, said liner comprising afirst sheet of soft, spongy material overlying said wall, said sheetbeing deformed to one side thereof at spaced intervals to formspaced-apart, cup-shaped air pockets therein; means securing said sheetto said wall; and a second sheet overlying said first sheet and beingspaced from the latter by said pockets.
 2. The construction set forth inclaim 1 wherein said second sheet is flat.
 3. The construction set forthin claim 1 wherein the means securing said first sheet to said wallcomprises a flat sheet interposed between and bonded to said wall andsaid first sheet.
 4. The construction set forth in claim 3 wherein saidflat sheet is formed from soft, spongy material.
 5. The construction setforth in claim 1 wherein said pockets have a bellows configuration.